THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 611, 14 September 1909, Page 5

THE POLICE FORCE.

■ • COMMISSION IN WELLINGTON. BEHAVIOUR AT THE BARRACKS. CROWDED SLEEPING QUARTERS. ' EX-TRAM CONDUCTOR'S TROUBLES. The.Wellington sittings of tho. Polico Cotn« mission (Mr. . It. W. Bishop; S.M., coimuis-: Sioner) commenced yesterday morning at the .Dominion Museum, and eat from 10.30 a.m;,ta 12.30, and from 2 p.m. to 4, p.m. All the wit- • nessos heard yesterilay, were local polite «oa»-.. stables. - ' . ■. The Lambton Quay Meeting. V , Mr. -A. Gray, who appeared on behalf of 1 tho constables and non-commissioned officers at, Lambton CJuav, referred to tho meeting held' by the Wellington police' while the commission was at Duncdin. At that, meeting certain' resolutions. were passed. He did not pretend to defend' tho propriety of thoeo proceedings, - but lie wished to say, on behalf of, those responsible, that they were not actuated by any' feeling of hostility to the commission,' or by any other desire than that of .seeing that'tho. inquiry was as thorough as possible. So far as anyof tho resolutions rnigllt be considered 1 to be in the natnro of criticism of tho commission, or want of confidence, ho desired tov express publicly the regret of tlio men for pass-' ing them, and to withdraw any, appearance of want of confidence in-tho commission, or any-;' thing that, might savour of want of proper dufcy'_on their part.. Thb men, oh reflection,, considered that their actioh had been unwise. In excuse, lie might say that they were 'nfctu-< ated to s6mo, extent by.• mare. or less short 1 reports that wcro telegraphed-.'from Dunedin,'; and: wero under a. njistalccn .impression' that Certain individuals were using the opportunity lo ventilate their personal grievances, instead' of helping tho commission to'decide on the dis ciplino Of tho force* Jiud the other mailer.' in the order of reference. Mr. Bishop:. But what oil eatth had' thai; to do. with the Wellington policoP • Mr.'Gray said he did hot defend (heir but t merely pointed. out that' that, was one' of the things that'influenced them. Thev defired to withdraw any'apptarance of disloyalty oiywant M' confidence in the commission.

Statement by Mr.' Bishop. ' Mr.- Bishop said he" was glad .to have thisassurance that tho men saw -the error :of their ways, and this practical withdrawal of thewholo proceedings. Those proceedings. n'erO so 1 absolutely improper: that he was reluctant' to ; hold.tho .Wellington police as a body rcspou. sible for what was done. \ He would bo verysorry to think-'that a-: bMy of/.40 .-'men—the! number reported to, have been present at tho, meeting—would meet together -in solemn - con- v Clare to pass resolutions on matters which they know nothing whatever about. 1 They hadacted absolutely haphazard, and, 'as a result,■ they had carried resolutions that \verc tantamount to an expression- of want of confidence ni the person holding tho commission, andtho fullest confidence in their o'wii heads. 110 was able to treat their, wAnt of confidence \vith v contempt.' HeUrusted his -reputation was;good enough for that. Ho impressed ivith tho' idea, that the ' meeting was not; tho outcome of a spontaneous, desire, on' the part; of the-, Wellington police. It ,'w'as inspired by one or , two . people, and those .; responsible* .were,- .'jn- .reality, morcly-' made' ,uso of., }f we* on pn« Or .two''who w'cro behind that, the blanio should fall. 'Ho was exceedingly glad ?? this explanation, even at this late date. .Ill# iticeting had done'a: great'deal of , narm.... It had afforded material -for. some: people oh which to base an unsatisfactory opinI ion of the condition of tho foTco. \The ben had' only thotnselTps to;. blanio. "for . the. result-.of their own conduct. So far as any cncotlrage-' ment was allefxid to have self, or .anybody-else contWcted with - the "fiolp- ' mission,. to use it'for, tho,,airing of personal:; grievances, .he wished to'say that .that. Sort bf 'thing had been, steadily -discountenanced. It wa^. impossible to shut - the door to all evidence that was not, relevant, or to eomo that, .according to sdmo oltinions, was improper. Ho had to hear it before ho' could judge whether it was relevant-and propeV,,;or came within the order; of. reference.; Some of the evidence, had -been - 'described.' .in ;,newspapers': .posterously irrelevant.";.' Perhaps' it was, but; he took,exception to being hold personally re-, tsponsiblo for-.'that;' .-His .'solo ..'endeavour hail. ,been- to obtain iiiforitat-ioh that, would enable the, force- generally to bo put on .the, highest possibles footing, in regard to oflicioncy;, organ-: isatiotr-atid discipline. l W ; hen. he had oddi!cssed the men;'he;had impressed,it upon; them, he did not want, them to .uioi'tho commission to nir their personal grievance's.''. He had always held tho force in, the,'KighO'st possible, es-' teem.'&nd would be . very, sorry, to iind'ttatcrial: that would cause him to report adversely. So far as their general, conduct was concornod, ho hud only heard them spoken 6f as a credit to the Dominion. It ; was .unfortunate that tl\o vory men whom he tfas trying to benefit Should, turn round and not-only belittle the ; cOmniis-. sion,. but tiy.to put obstacles in the" way. i i'.Mr.! Bishop ,'also 6tated that, he would call all the local officers- of the polico, but would not call pohiiablos.. They could como forward ol their, own' motion. ■ Mr. Gray said fie had Jjeon psked to appear, 'for; the meni' :, because-of 'certain statements about "their conduct that, had been modo in Parliament and elsowliero.- Mr. Dinnie could< speak best on that matter. • - ■ Mr. Bishop said Mr. Diunio would 1 have an opportunity, of making a full statement nt tho olose .of tho .ovideuco on any lines , that might - seem proper'to him.'.' i..." : t Mr. J)inuie said lie disapproved, of tho meeting of the police' at Lambton Quay, and wired from Duiiedin that such proceedings should bo discontinued. .-.i ■;. -■■■■■:■ * ',

Mr. J. J, ; Meikle. ■: . . i ;J. J. Jleikle asked tho commission to go .into matters regarding ft' constable, who,-he. said," was still in tho' service and hnd years ago' in-i stigdted' Lambert ' to inform' against liiin • (M6ikle). Mr. Bishop said he wfts not concerned "with the question whether any individual was it'fit' person to" bo ill'the force. If Mr. Moiklo's statement' was correct, his proper courso whs to' bring & chargo.of perjury against tho con- ; stable. 1 •. '• '■> : ' . : . '.■■Mr. Meiklo said lie-had been encouraged bj tho. lion. Dr. Piudlay and Commissioner Din•nie to'apply to the commission: ■ '■•"..- ■:• Mr. Bishop said ho was not' : resrtonsib)o for what'anyone had said to Mr. .Meikle.. Neither : Dr, Pindhjr nor Mr. Dinnio: cduld dictate to lum (Mr. Bishbp) as to what evidenco ha should take..- Whoh'he. saw a letter from Mr. Meiklo expressing a desire to appear he had directed that n reply nhould bo sent thai, in - his opinion, tho matter did not corno within the 6rd.br of rot'orcnco.

Local < Police Grlcvancct. • John Robert Thompsons constable, gave cvidonco as a delegate irom tho Lnmbton Quay ■ constables. Ho said the mon Nvantod another Is. ii day, and. annual increineats rising to; ft: maximum of 10s.; also Is. 6d. huuSe allowance , for matried meu, instead of Is. as at present, and, 18 days' leavo in' the year. . They alsc . wanted a better 1 system of Doihg roused foJ duty at U' p.m. At present all the men it: . the dormitory wero; awakened .frhen thoso whe ivero goiAg on duty had to be called., Tliej , •- further. nsked ; that constables of 12 months' service and a clean record should bo allowed: ivheri fin leavo to stay out until midnight. Frco uniforms and two pair, of trousers o year, instead of olio,'as at present, wero also do-. sired. Tho accommodation was. too ; limited. Thero wero serou or eight , men sjeeping in o •small r00m... ' ~ • : , Mr. Bishop: I will: personally inspect.that. : v 1 Mr. Arno!d'< Allegations. Witness also repudiated certain; allegations made by Mr. J. P. Arnold, M.P.i as ,/to tho conduct of tho polite, at the local; barracks. Witness had boon fourteen months atLainbton Quay, and the ctoiStablcs there wore" the best . ! class Gf men lift had ever btcn amongst. Ho was.a sihglo man-: ana "lived atthe barracks. Ho .bad nover' hoard of au,Y other allegations like thoso; made by ' Mr; ■ Arnold, as to tho conduct of thfc. polico at • Lambion .Quay, and ho could not account for suoli. stiitemente being, made.'. Ho had. never-, oeen any liquor brought on to' tho premises.' ■ To Mr.. Gray: 110 never heard .of two sergeants having to go to ; the: m'ou s rooms to-; • mako peace. Ho must liavo heard it if such ■ a thing had taken place, Ho knew of no "unrest", among the men, nor . any causes of ' dissatisfaction other than those ho had men-.

tioned." Do did not know of any larrikin elcfiicnb umong tlie Wellington poliCo, To Mr. DinniO: He knew nothing o[ the special man th&.t had been m&ntfbhed olsowhore. He had been tteatod fairly. .

, "Absolutely Indcccht." To Inspector Ellison: It was on account of the inadequate accommodation, several men boing in One room, in cubicles, that tho calling of the roll at 11 p.m. was objeotod to. , Mr. Bisliop: And quite'rirhtly. Tho men hnvo no privacy. It is nbswutdy indewnt. John Charles Gallagher, constable and watchhoußo-keepcr; Lambton Quay, who nlso appeared as a delcgato, said"the.uniforms cost ii man about 42,109.. a year.. ,Tbe allegations that had been made about the behaviour of tho men-caused eveiy constable living on ■ th»

as; a participant in ■ ' • tlrnnken,Aorgiesl , Ho*;had seeA as much 7 ; . : of .'tno';men .'anybody, arid- thoir 'bchaviffar \ • was .good. "'■ v? ra y. said ho \was informed that overy . . constablo and sorgeant was propared to givo f evidenco-,iu robuttal • of. tho. allocations as to misconduct. 1 .■vv.To Mr. Dinnic: He behevo in tho ; ... existence,- of tho "handy man." 1 v Want of Sleep. . P°y lG »-■ constable," delegate from. tho t OU ?i ~ oo ,k barracks, asked that the' wages ♦ should begin at Bs. a day/ and should riso Od. every, ftvo. years, reaching the maximum; of 30s. • at. eight years. 'Xhoy wished leavo to bo for ; sixteen days a year, and to bo allowed to .- for. .-threo- years. •■ •Men on night ;V hayiiig to lattend Court should havo two V 1 r 'hours ,taken: off -their night duty. This meant that >tho men .had about two brokon nights a •' r- . week,-; and! were tecqpted to let' irregularities I ; their notice. They also asked for free V. y P^ se s. when-'travelling on leave.-; They I ..oftenvhad to assist in keeping•orders or-other*' . . .wjso, when on leave. -To ilr. -Dimiio: The discipline at Mount .Cook would 'compare favourably .with that of - r sorae;of. the, strictest forces in England,' where •'' hevhad:*had:some years > experience. *. : ■ *. Physical Culture and Exuberant Spirits. ••• •• . Willjanr Arthur :.Caldwell, . constable, ' also Bav° .evidence .as a Mount Cook delegate. In addition. ' to tho,•• requests reported above, they , , wished for_ ono : Sunday off in four, regularly allowed. . Thero should bo properly. equipped gymnasia at ytha stations..;ilen were apt to bicomo soil and out of condition,, and when - they had to arrest ~a robust ■ labourer wore • obliged to.lnock .him about.too much -or let • him go. , . . To Mr. Gray.- Ho know of ono cases • • 5". cr P, fflcn had boon = inclined »to larrikinism, out the; general- behaviour, was good; ' He had r '-cjjver".seen .one of,. them the worse for drink. 7 r* • cThere was sometimes a .little friendly wrestling . ' at tho.barracks. • . ' thought , tho .inspectors . eapuld: have information before them in" . -yHpscommending .proraQtions. v The examinations V - law, otc., were a good feature. - U: : ,;Xp Mr. Bishop:;Service;in ,the depot' should Constable' • Skinner, •at Rotorna, .was. perfectly qualified to .: as physical instructor to "the police if .: ; they had; a: gymnasium, r Th'ev. had' sometimes .had .pulow-fights : and-tossed 'their beds about at Mdunt Cook. .Mr. Bishop: Moroly exuboranco:of spirits, -3 /BUppose. •. - •' • \ "i\ TYiteoWi-yTcs.";;*'';- : -V-y ,■ j , .Ex-Tram Conductor: Misconduct Denied. John \WiHett,v constable, ■ Wellington'.,South,. • V -Save evidence;, and -produced ..correspondence to , ' show .that; he; was innocent of certain miscon.;s;duct tflleged against : him.,as' a tram .conductor. > ™ Wellington beforo joining' the police .force., ; himself,of aspersions; mado. •. .by Mr.'J. X\ Arnold, M.IV when the commis- • bion; was at Dnnedm. Witness. asked whether r' he had any redress: v- -• • • i ~ Bishop said; that : was not a question for ' / him to deal with •' • Questioned ;as to ah incident that occurred > ; :he >was.-..a' tram..'conductor, l witness said .■,:V^.Jhat .°nyone, o occasibn ;'.when' ; comingj.backKfrom . .. Oriental-Bay a boy came-on the-tram with a . tin full-of crabs..: Witness pioked out ono : /; c rab; anfd:iropped-it :into" -a lady'svpurse.: That vas all ' v'Was:;the'>iady 'i : aV6tranger: to .''.'i> : :altogether>X' 6 trangdr.'. - .She was ?bont -• - of • *age,V; an^, sheX had a ,•.*)^daughter'|.with;her. be.n'o. possi* > bility of-; any. inde'ceht- 'sugg'esHon.- • It iwaa 'a ' ; r • . r Why did you dont? 1 Ton wero m a position iof jtrust.-r-I can't/sayV: Every man--does things -v'.; he ; A: . •; letter from ; the lady's husband -was put;in' ?r - by; Mr. ;Bishop^; It the' ,; ; : N -,whole. was arpractical joke, and 1 that .th 9 that 'any ..improper suggestion was -in:■tended v .was;ridiculous.. .:The letter continued: v.-**'*- ®•' were -remoVed froih' the . position of guard; Zand placed Von' other work, z\i; as A ,the offence'.wds;'not 'to. justify vdismisjal -from; the■'^tjervice.'^/... V: : -fnrthAr 'said ' the -'lady- plained to- tho, tramways iongmeor, ifind ho then re- .•. ;:'6ignfed.'';vHe ; that'/he.• was in :: playmp-the practical joke.: >- the.'city eleotricai 'and-reqmredf to; produce' ;:i the • documents -relating to the-: incident. . , ; ;; y^ontmuingj;his. oviaence,,?tho 'witness com-:p^yp^-^hat qf^priyjfor. l constables.was ..r .-.inadequato., -As a'tram Conductor,-.ho had made . : about a week, and ho was now worse off ' eve|r..beforei; There was hothing-'to attract: • u,;)';-men to^rjoin the. force.; ;> \r-- v ; • •

"A Judge 'of. Inspectors." >v _ V ?' liara James Taylor, constablo, Wellington i"South, compltiuied , '6f''unj«st' beitment' r at the hands of/Mpector Ellison.' He stated that ho ...•.nad ; boen.sent. to Auckland on- being sworn, in,' and quickly recalled to Wellington. His suv ofc. Aucklondsspoke well of "his cpnduct,. bjit. when' he• reported himself Wr-Wel-;-v! Mington,. Inapeotor - Ellison called' him s a waster, :ji l/andrefu^iimtwerity-four.hoars'leave to r look family affairs.: Tot- they, left: him without from-B:p.m;*ttf -f a.m. formorethan wo -years. He hiidliad no . Sunday off - since i -v,; " s .toherj;:lßo7. i f He", also 'complained jthatTduty >;on.olectiondays was too heavy. He complained '• v . ??i tj s ® .promotion'-of -Detective Abbott over the .. -hKaß.ofbther'.' men.He thought- inspectors should -be shifted -about,' aswell as 'constables, f - .on account "of showing favouritism.. It was. ■ft ; T . n .®P ni ! e^: that: inspector. Ellison .had not ad-' ministered the - licensing laws fairly at New- , ™. He asked that Sergeant Dale's report on •/ hotels should bo put in as evidence. The'.only inspector/ho. had been under besides : .i Mr. Ellison waa Inspector Cullon,' of Auck- , land. . .Menr could get'justice-from the latter/: ..- -• Cross-examined 'by Inspector; Ellison: :He ; thought ;he'; : was -as well. qualified as' Detective to 'be a .'detective. -•'• He' did .riot' feel: ag-: j; : -grieyed ; ? ; af; ; npt^beiDg:^recommended' - for .a. r; mounted man, 'but because ;tho/ inspector, had' to.'iieedetl'? thestrict eye.of a' ' The! .station. was>.in .;charge.' of., Con-: iv -K er r.who ivas : a;.very capable man. Constable Kerr. as .good as a; sergeant?/ '—1 m no judge of sergeants. ; ! ', ?ut you seem to be a judge.'of inspectors . I 1' judge,how;l'm.,treated ; ' , 'S^TP^'v^'^^/S^^new,that.Detective Ate- .; - PP." 'asergearit; before ,he resigned, and had -.- been in tho.force somo years. . i>' . • . . intimated that a witness whom -Taylor; wished -to call - could .• be'.' called to-day ' : |, ti ?,ithat; Sergeant,. .Matheson, ..of...'Wellington bouth, would also give evidence, "and could be , . orossrexamihed.by Taylor. . ...

Complaint Against the Chief Clerk. ~ iMichael.,. Green, constable, • who said he was .' enrolled ;in Otagd. in '1875, ,and had served a . \considerable, p'eriod. as -an inspector of. weights ;.v. ': a'na'vmeasiires, said "he was eow .Verifier-General crWeights' andMeasur'es for -the Dominion. ; having socceeded the lateiSir''James' Hector in ...- thatoffic«. His pay was 95.. fid; a day,, without. . house'allowance,-ho,'being .a man,' and' & ;■ he.'Submitt.ed .important (duties,; ho was not so well paid as ; others^ ; whomi-he.'' instanced.■.r'-'-HVmade sugges- • . in:;Tegardi to/ holidays' for,-the. police, and s' r . viaid.ian appearboard.'was He did • ■ not know much of political' influence,-'.but there was,' something',worse.., The., Chief. Clerk, ' who was :a.sub-inspector,iliad:bMn : ',allowed.'to ! exerdiso, the 'funotions: ofthe; i. Commissioner," J; ".-both ,as. Acting-CommiMioner.'/'and'•-•at- other, :!.::i.'toM.^'\The;.Cmef},Clei,t,^ociated.;with;,:iftliemen frequently in- their.. billiard-room;s and . 1 that should inofe'ibe, as it prepared tho way for. In:Mr.!Tiuibridgo's time 'they hadv:: good- men in, the Commissioner's office, 'and ■ the' forro hardly knew'.them.: ~Bnt:now-i tj was .too' ji close;»-corporation:.':iThe matters he had mett.twned /Men, 'a, {frequent: subject of • comment ,I-:.ainon|:,. the: polico'.v : Sub-Inspector AVright -was' 'practically :, : thb 'and 'his jiriends stood;, the :b'est .chanco'of^rbmdtion.' Men came, ..from all' parts 'of tho Dominion, to ■ interview Mr. .Wright, about promotion." V: y.

Horse-play at tho'Barracks. , , -To. . Mr. Gray i,. There ihad been disorderly •;.: Boenes. afc tho Larabton Quay barracks oil one ■■ v' or..'.two .occasions',.' about': three: tuonths ago; Ho' 'Ua . was not present;- but was on tho premises, and- ; heard: V Ati, : 9.- o^clook: one night, * he. heard' a Muffle iin the passage, but, thought it was . nothing -serious,, and /;, did '.;; not go to . eee. . He • heard . afterwards. ' that ' there '■.i ,' was an assault. , On-anotberoc?asion,- : &t. 11 y ,- . - p.m.,.there .yasieome .Sergeant' ■v. ; '^ Lyons.came■up:ancl';warnedithe mcn.':into their. . beds. ' That;.was tho end of it. Ho'knew of . r;ho '• other,instances' of anything like: rowdyism . ;'. and ho had not'spont a iight out of the barracks,for, years. :..The' doiiduct of the men : gen- : erally was good.' , • ' Cross-examined;' by.: Mr. " Dinnie,' witness' ; .r ; vhande'd him: the names of :pblicehien'iwho, he' ,V', paid, hod come front'different parts ?of> the' :V:,rDomini6n.'to;;soe 'Mr..; Wrightj 1 He Knew 'nb- ; 'v; thing'of :the authorshipotYcertain .letters ,to the press about Mr. Dinnie, and ho had nover been in ■commu.nicationLwith;Mr. ; '-Ajno]d,'-M.Pv ./ To .-Mr. Jlinnie: A matt . who' was" ti'yirtg - to' ; • pet promotion l ,would go',to ;the'cbief'clerk,'and '~:.. if .they ■ were good' fellows together, -he would say, "Don't forget me." ... And.; he v would iexpoct., to . got 'promotion ?-- Not a doubt of it. • . i . • V.\ Don't; you ■know';that;recommendations ihaye ' ' ,to:b» made"by .;tho inspectors?— Yes, .but thoy ;' go up,, to; the ..Building's,:; arid ,aro: ; pigeon-hol«li'. . If ho wanted promotion, 'and was on good' termV - with tho chief :clerk,' 'hoVwohld 1 ' not! think' of ■ T J v:'goiiig!to #'• memberTof 'Parliament.',.■ >/•: >■ "t' ! y;.';-. The. commission- adjourned • until .10.30 a.m. 10-dai, 1 '